Expanded versus unexpanded CSS view?

[Chamuel333]

The first screen capture shows my default CSS view in Dreamweaver. It is all compressed together and I cannot work with it.

The second view is another CSS file also loaded in Dreamweaver, but it is expanded and I can work with it.

Question do these two CSS files view differently in Dreamweaver?

How do I change the first view to expand so I can work with it?

Final question: I need to add shorter additional CSS group shown . . . To the existing primary CSS file (compressed one). Do I just tack it onto the bottom and save the file?

Obvious beginners questions.

Thanks

[osgood_]

1) Question do these two CSS files view differently in Dreamweaver?

No. The first example seems to show a minified css file. Did you do that or did DW do that? Both minified and un-minified css files will show the components that the css is applied to the same in Dreamweaver/Browser.

You only generally minify your css file when you come to distribute it to your remote host server at the end of your production/build cycle. When working at production/build level you would want to work on the un-minified version.

2) How do I change the first view to expand so I can work with it?

I have no idea IF Dreamweaver has the ability to un-minify a minified css file BUT there are online solutions which can do it:

https://unminify.com/

3) I need to add shorter additional CSS group shown

You can just add the un-minified css to the end of the minified css but generally you'd want to do one or the other, not mix and match.

By the way minifying is a bit pointless in my opinion unless you are a terrible web-developer who uses huge bloated frameworks and plugins. Learn to develop without using a lot of bloated dependancies and you'll never need to minify anything.

[BenPleysier]

How do I change the first view to expand so I can work with it?

[osgood_]

Go to bed, it must be like 2am over there. You definitely need your beauty sleep.